Building wealth is a marathon, not a sprint, and it’s easy to feel discouraged. In my early 20s, after a significant financial win, I found myself disillusioned by the monotony of seeing my savings as just numbers on a screen. The thrill of having money lost its luster quickly.
Back in 2003, I toyed with the idea of quitting my job in San Francisco to live a carefree life in Hawaii, filled with surfing, massages, and Mai Tais. I even fantasized about buying a Eurovan and road-tripping across America, showering at rest stops. There’s a certain danger in achieving financial success too early. It can give you a false sense of ease and accomplishment, dampening your drive to achieve more.
After enduring the constant noise from a rowdy neighbor above my rented apartment, I decided to channel my funds into buying my own place. The act of buying property and saying goodbye to a chunk of my savings actually felt liberating. It wasn’t just about escaping the rental trap; it was about committing to something bigger and refusing to let my financial success make me complacent.
Owning a home meant I had to work harder than ever. The comfort of a nicer living space was a direct result of years of hard work and risk. The threat of potentially losing my home if I didn’t keep up with mortgage payments was a powerful motivator. It turns out, investing in a mortgage wasn’t just a financial strategy; it was a way to keep myself grounded and focused.
Years later, at 32, my passion for my career began to wane. I penned “The Dark Side Of Early Retirement” to voice my internal debates and challenge my own thinking before eventually deciding to leave my job. Ironically, this reflection stirred quite a debate within the early retirement community.
Celebrating small wins has become my new mantra. For instance, although I only made $1,400 from an investment, it felt like a victory because I avoided a potential $10,000 loss if the stocks had dipped further. This small win spurred me to plan more travels, something ingrained in me since childhood due to my international upbringing.
Last year’s travels took me to several European cities to soak in their culture and this year, I plan to explore Mallorca and understand life in a high-unemployment area, followed by a stop in Switzerland to appreciate their political neutrality.
My adventures have led me to believe that embracing the European lifestyle could be enlightening. The laid-back approach, combined with a robust safety net, seems to encourage a less stressful, more enjoyable way of life.
In essence, money should be enjoyed. It’s important to identify specific goals for saving, such as travel, education, or even a dream home. But it’s equally important to enjoy the fruits of your labor without guilt. The journey towards financial freedom is about finding a balance between saving and living.
